Treatment : Gum Disease
Have you seen a bit of blood in your sink when you brush your teeth lately? That bleeding can be one of the first warning signs that you’ve got gum disease.
The mild variety is called gingivitis. When you have that, only your gums are infected. If you don’t treat it, the infection can travel below your gum line and into your bone. Then it becomes a more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis.
Gum Disease Symptoms
- Red, swollen gums
- Bad breath
- Gums that get smaller
- Sensitive teeth
- Wiggly or shifting teeth
Gum Disease Treatment
- Deep cleaning
- Medication
- Antiseptic chip or antibiotic microspheres
- Antibiotic gel
- Enzyme suppressant
- Surgery
- Flap / Gum raft surgery
Frequently Asked Questions for Gum Disease
Gum disease is described as swelling, soreness or infection of the tissues supporting the teeth. There are two main forms of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontal disease.
All gum disease is caused by plaque. Plaque is a film of bacteria which forms on the surface of the teeth every day. Many of the bacteria in plaque are completely harmless, but there are some that have been shown to be the main cause of gum disease.
To prevent and treat gum disease, you need to make sure you remove all the plaque from your teeth every day. This is done by brushing and cleaning in between the teeth with ‘inter dental’ brushes or floss.
See our advice on ‘caring for my teeth and gums‘ for how to do this.
The first thing to do is visit your dental team for a thorough check-up of your teeth and gums. They will measure the ‘cuff’ of gum around each tooth to see if there is any sign that periodontal disease has started. X-rays may also be needed to see the amount of bone that has been lost. This assessment is very important, so the correct treatment can be prescribed for you.
Your dental team will remove all plaque and tartar from your teeth. You will also be shown how to remove plaque successfully yourself, cleaning all the surfaces of your teeth thoroughly and effectively. This may take a number of sessions with the dental team. A good oral care routine at home with brushing and inter dental cleaning is the most important thing you can do to help prevent gum disease getting worse.
